Feeding design trial for cultivated meat dog treats to be submitted to FDA for approval

Photo: RoJo Images/Adobe Stock

The design of a feeding trial for dog food with cultivated chicken is expected to be submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this month. Cell-cultivated chicken is a novel ingredient that has not yet received approval for animal consumption.¹ Further Foods, a subsidiary of CULT Food Science—a disruptive food technology platform evolving the commercialization of lab-grown meat and cellular agriculture—is developing a Target Animal Safety (TAS) study to ensure the safety and effectiveness of including cell-cultivated chicken in future formulations of Noochies!, nutritional yeast-based freeze dried treats for cats and dogs.

The feeding trial design protocol, which is being developed in partnership with Sarah Dodd, BVSc, MSc, PhD, DECVCN, is expected to be submitted to the FDA later this month. The FDA aims to provide a response within 45 days of submission, according to a news release. Once the FDA approves the design of the protocol, the company has plans to begin the feeding trials in the 4th quarter. According to Further Foods,¹ they are the sole company currently in dialogue with the FDA regarding feeding trials for a cultivated chicken dog treat, as far as it is aware.

"I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Further Foods and Noochies! on this very exciting feeding trial. Cultivated meat is an area I am personally exceptionally excited about, for both its nutritional potential for animals and for its positive impact on the environment. I look forward to navigating the regulatory pathways and feeding trial requirements with the FDA and advancing this first of its kind trial forward,” said Dodd in the news release.¹

According to the company, the TAS study will be a 26-week minimally feeding study where 30 healthy adult dogs of different breeds and ages will receive 1 control dose, 1 test done, and a high inclusion dose. Factors including feed intake data, hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, weight, fecal analysis, and digestibility will be monitored to ensure the safe inclusion of cell-cultivated meat for these canines.¹

Reference

CULT Food Science subsidiary Further Foods announces imminent FDA trial design for cultivated meat in pet food. News release. Cult Food Science Corp. July 18, 2024. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cult-food-science-subsidiary-further-foods-announces-imminent-fda-trial-design-for-cultivated-meat-in-pet-food-824567776.html